"We're not critics. We're professional fan-girls." --- This blog is dedicated to movies and the entertainment industry. We use random selection to bring into light the best and worst of Netflix and off various columns highlighting new movies as well.

Christine and Michael are having a calm dinner at home
alone, watching television and talking. When the doorbell rings, they think
nothing of it, until the gang of teens burst in and take them hostage.

I have never seen anything like this. It wasn’t the plot
that made the movie so different. I mean, it was your basic home invasion, but
the way the story was told and acted was insane. There was very little
spectacle. Actually, it seemed to be in real-time, as if the audience weren’t
just watching retelling, but actually present; a fly on the wall, so to speak.

At first, “Cherry Tree Lane” came off a bit boring. The
first ten minutes or so, we’re just watching a couple talk about stuff we don’t
get to really learn about. It’s just typical couple stuff, nothing interesting.
Once the movie gets going, though, it turns into something creepy and
terrifying.

What made it so scary was the realism that went into it.
There was a reason for the gang to be intruding on that household. There was a
reason they were after someone, and the story went into the mentality of
revenge and the violent lifestyle of gang members – the altered theory of
morality shown by the different characters. I was thoroughly consumed after a
while and desperately in need of cuddles from my dog.

It’s different and out there, but it still hits very close
to home with a, “this could happen to anyone,” quality. I absolutely adored the
ending, too.

Also, there was a bit of an issue with the sound. I don’t
believe it was my TV, but I did have to turn it up to max in order to hear
correctly. I’ve reported this issue to Netflix.

Pocahontas is trying to get by after hearing rumors of John
Smith’s death. Along the way she learns that England is planning to launch an
attack against her people. When the opportunity arises to sail to London and
speak directly to the king, Pocahontas boards a ship with her escort, John
Rolfe, and heads to the land of the white man.

Before I begin, let me say that I am not going to judge this
movie on historical accuracy. I think the people who do are ridiculous. It’s a
child’s movie. It’s not meant to be accurate, it’s meant to be entertaining and
to share a lesson with children. I’ve never met a single six year old who’s
snubbed a movie because of historical inaccuracy. Besides, if you judge it by
that, you might as well look for scientific accuracy as well, otherwise, just
suspend disbelief and move on.

Despite my defending the “accuracy” issues of “Pocahontas II,”
I have to admit the movie was almost unbearable. Where the first “Pocahontas”
became one of Disney’s classics, exhibiting amazing music and moral undertone; “Pocahontas
II” was very near the opposite, it kept the moral tone but exhibited complete
mediocrity in everything else. The songs were lifeless; the script seemed
forced and lacking creativity. There’s no doubt as to why this movie went
straight to video.

The shining point of the entire movie was the animals, which
were focused on a bit more than in the original. It’s those animals that would
keep any child occupied while watching, but it leaves very little for their
parents to become enthralled with. It’s cute, but not nearly enough.

At Jenna’s thirteenth birthday party, something goes
severely wrong. Although things are seemingly looking up when the popular kids
agree to join her, it turns out to be a prank. When she figures it out, she
wishes to be thirty, and her wish is granted.

There’s not really much original about the base plot. It’s
been done more times than I can count. As a singular point of view of a “Freaky
Friday” situation, the story goes exactly the way you think it would. Within
five minutes of the movie, you’ll have the entire thing mapped out in your
brain. However, even knowing that, I found I really enjoyed this movie. I think
it may be one of my favorite versions of this recipe.

I think Garner did a wonderful job and Ruffalo is just plain
adorable. Also, the casting was fantastic, the actresses they got to play the
younger and older Tom-Toms looked incredibly similar. I had no problem
discerning who the older actress was supposed to be, even before the movie told
me.

There’s not really much else to add. It was a hilarious,
cringe-worthy, telling of a tale told a thousand times. No one reinvented the
wheel here, but it rolls along just fine anyway.

There was one slight hole in the story, though. I’ll explain
why it’s a hole, but you won’t fully get the picture unless you watch it: I don’t
know any parents who would allow their thirteen year old daughters sleep over
at a 30 year old woman house – especially when that woman doesn’t have any
kids. That’s just weird.